Camden County police officer charged with repeatedly punching man in head

CAMDEN, NJ (KYW Newsradio) -- A federal grand jury in Camden has indicted a member of the Camden County Police Department.

Twenty-five-year-old Nicholas Romantino, who resides in Egg Harbor City, was one of several cops who responded to a call of a man with a gun at New Hampshire and Collings Roads in the city’s Fairview section on February 22.

As it turns out, the 32-year-old suspect was unarmed. But according to the two count indictment, Romantino allegedly punched him several times in the head after a total of three officers wrestled him to the ground.

The indictment indicates that Romantino then filed a false police report about the confrontation that led to the alleged beating.

Camden County prosecutors declined to charge Romantino in April.

The officer faces a federal civil rights violation charge as well as falsifying records. If convicted, he could receive a lengthy prison term and a hefty fine.

A spokesman for the Camden County Police Department, in an e-mail to KYW Newsradio, said Romantino “is suspended without pay pending the completion of the US Attorney’s investigation, adjudication and an agency internal investigation. Our internal investigation cannot be done until the US Attorney has finished their process.”